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Friday, August 11, 2017

After a hiatus from the 3rd-Row SUV segment, Subaru is bringing a competitive punch to the market in Spring of 2018. This long overdue and highly anticipated family SUV has been teasing auto shows this past year with two different concepts being displayed toting the design features to come. Built on the new Subaru Global Platform, the 2019 Subaru Ascent will have lots of goodies coming with it for growing Subaru families to enjoy.

At the heart of the Ascent lies a brand-new engine for Subaru. Using a similar design to the Forester XT and WRX, the powerplant in the Ascent is a larger 2.4 liter Direct Injected 4-cylinder Boxer Engine with a Twin-Scroll Turbocharger. Mated to a High-Torque Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), it should deliver smooth and efficient power through it's full-time Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. Power output is not known yet at this time, but the Ascent will be able to tow up to 5,000 lbs with this setup.

Subaru's EyeSight System, which hosts a suite of safety equipment, will be standard on all Ascent models. Front and Rear facing cameras aid with parking visibility while Pre-Collision Systems keep an eye out ahead for any trouble. Tie this in with the Ascent's fantastic cabin visibility along with crash ratings designed to meet current and future safety standards and this new addition to the family looks to easily continue Subaru's run of Top Safety Pick + Awards.

The big news with the Ascent is how BIG it really is. For starters, the Ascent can jump up from it's 7-Passenger status to 8-Passengers with the option to replace the two center Captains chairs with a Bench seat for 3. While the cabin's dimensions haven't been released, it's as big or larger than most of it's current competitors. To accommodate all those passengers, the Ascent's interior is full of USB Charging points along with an army of Cup Holders to stow drinks for your crew. Along with Dual-Zone Climate Control for the front, the rear passengers have their own controls and vents in a roomy cabin. Above them is a massive two-piece power moonroof that nearly covers the entire ceiling, adding to it's already stellar visibility. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto lie at the core of Subaru's Infotainment System on a large touchscreen radio with intuitive controls and sharp resolution.

Built alongside the American-built Impreza, Legacy, and Outback, the new Ascent will be a great addition to the Subaru lineup for 2018. More details will be released later in the year so keep an eye out for updates as we get closer to the release!

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

It's been a few years since a Rally Championship in the US came down to the line like this. When the newly-formed American Rally Association (ARA) kicked off their inaugural season in early 2017, Subaru Rally Team USA had both of their driver duos ready to battle it out on even terms. David Higgins and Co-Driver Craig Drew have won the last 6 National Championships with Rally America while Travis Pastrana and Co-Driver Robbie Durant have been making a more committed return to rally. After 5 rounds battling it out in identical rally cars, the two teams have been locked in close competition and, after a crazy battle in New England, it looks to come down to the line! Ojibwe will decide the ARA Championship!

The story so far between the #75 and #199 Subarus has been a rollercoaster so far. Higgins and Drew took the first win at Perce Neige in Canada only to be edged out a few months later at Oregon Trail by Pastrana and Durant. At the following Olympus Rally in Washington State, Higgins regained the lead with a dominant win and another win at the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally.

At that point it was looking like the veteran team in the #75 Subaru would take the Championship until the New England Forest Rally when things got interesting. It started with a rough finish to Day 1 when Robbie Durant was injured during the last stage of the day. Unable to finish the rally, Subaru Rally Team USA employed the help of one of their crew, Greg Dorman, to sit in for Durant and finish the rally. Day 2 was especially tough on the cars. Higgins' lead disintegrated when the rear passenger wheel was ripped from his car. During service, the crew was unable to make full repairs needed to get his car back to 100%. With only a second separating Higgins and Pastrana, the #199 Subaru took the win to clinch the ARA Championship Points.

David Higgins and Craig Drew have won the Rally America National Championship 6 years in a row. With Travis Pastrana's improvements and commitment getting results, he's got a shot to win it all at the Ojibwe Forests Rally. It's too close to call and, with the unpredictable nature of rally, it's still anyone's championship to win! When the dust settles in northeastern Minnesota, who will take the ARA Championship home?